Animal-named Plants

A readers recently posed an unusual question: “I am preparing a class for child care providers on growing a Zoo Garden. I need a list of plants that have the name of an animal, i.e. Lamb’s Ear. I want to involve the five senses so I’m also looking for plants on the list that are edible.”

“I can vouch for the edibility of the ‘Baby Bear’ pumpkin but I wouldn’t offer horseradish to anyone younger than twenty one years old. Catmint and catnip have a pleasant smell and lamb’s ear has furry, plush foliage.”